After Orlando shooting, Muslim Americans show support for victims

The Mayor of Orlando says there were 50 casualties and there are 53 more hospitalized after a mass shooting at a popular gay nightclub. (June 12)
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Ray Rivera, left, a D.J. at Pulse Orlando nightclub, is consoled by a friend, outside of the Orlando Police Department after a shooting involving multiple fatalities at the nightclub, on June 12, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.(Photo: Joe Burbank, AP)

Muslims across America showed an outpouring of support for victims after the deadliest shooting spree in U.S. history left 49 people dead in an Orlando, Fla., nightclub.

The lone shooter, killed by police, has been identified as a Muslim.

A federal law enforcement official told USA TODAY the suspect has been identified as Omar Seddique Mateen of Fort Pierce, Fla. The official, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the investigation, said authorities are trying to determine if the shooting was connected to radical Islamist groups such as the Islamic State.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said earlier Sunday that he was informed that Mateen had declared allegiance to the Islamic State during a communication with law enforcement at some point before he died.

The suspect's father, Mir Seddique, told NBC News on Sunday that his son had recently expressed anti-gay sentiments. He said the attack "had nothing to do with religion."

The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement that said, "We condemn this monstrous attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured. The Muslim community joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence."

The Muslim civil liberties organization is asking for blood donations to help those injured in the attack.

The American Muslim Community Centers, a mosque in Longwood, Fla., said the mosque stands with Americans and "senseless violence has no place in our religion or in our society."

Mark Williams, 24, of Orlando passes near a billboard of unity on his way to work. The city and nation are still feeling the effects of the June 12 mass shooting in an Orlando nightclub. "It was terrible," Williams said. "Nobody deserves to be shot like that." Corey Perrine, Naples Daily News, via USA TODAY NETWORK

Angel Colon, one of the victims of the Pulse night club shooting is greeted by a family member during a press conference at the Orlando Regional Medical Center, June 14, 2016. Andrew West, USA TODAY NETWORK

Robert Palmer, 88, his daughter Rebecca, 47, and their friend Nellie (no last name provided) hug as they pay their respects to victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. Craig Bailey, USA TODAY NETWORK

Bree Balchunas and Amy Semesco comfort each other as they visit a memorial in front of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts set up to honor the victims of the Pulse gay nightclub shooting. Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Patience Carter, a victim in the Pulse nightclub shooting from Philadelphia, becomes emotional after giving her story during a news conference at Florida Hospital Orlando June 14, 2016. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

Hundreds came out for a vigil at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Arts in Orlando honoring the victims of the terror attack on Orlando nightclub Pulse on June 13, 2016. Craig Rubadoux, USA TODAY Network

Laly Santiago-Leon of Orlando holds a carnation at the Beardall Senior Center in Orlando, Monday, June 13, 2016. She was there to find out about her cousin, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, who was killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Craig Bailey, Florida Today, via USA TODAY NETWORK

Supporters stand in front of a giant screen in Paris in the fan zone of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament where a rainbow flag is displayed to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting of Orlando. Thomas Samson, AFP/Getty Images

Zoe Feldman kneels in front of a makeshift memorial in front of New York's Stonewall Inn to remember the victims of a mass shooting in Orlando. Morris was college friends with Kimberly Morris, who was working at the nightclub and died in the massacre. "A lot of my friends knew her and we all are just devastated," said Feldman. A gunman opened fire in a crowded Orlando nightclub early Sunday killing dozens of people. Mark Lennihan, AP

People gather outside of the Stonewall Inn to hold a vigil in New York, Sunday, June 12, 2016. The vigil was being held to remember the shooting victims at an Orlando nightclub. Monika Graff, Getty Images

Investigators photograph items near a car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, 2016, believed to belong to a man who was arrested for reportedly having weapons, ammunition and possible explosives. He was allegedly headed to the Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles. Jason Redmond, AFP/Getty Images

People attending Pridefest on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee join hands as a prayer is said for the victims of the Orlando nightclub mass shooting. Michael Sears, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

Participants show their support for victims of the Orlando shooting during the 2016 Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles. Security was tightened in the aftermath of the deadly shootings at a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando. Mark Ralston, AFP/Getty Images

People and members of the gay community gather for a vigil near the Beaubourg art center in downtown Paris on June 12, 2016, to mourn for victims of the mass shooting in Orlando. Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP/Getty Images

Victims and witnesses make their way out of the Orlando Police Headquarters building as FBI, Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office investigate the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub on June 12, 2016. Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today, via USA TODAY NETWORK

Members of a FBI SWAT team get ready to make entry into the Pulse nightclub, in the background, as the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Office investigate the terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today, via USA TODAY NETWORK

Ray Rivera, a DJ at the Pulse nightclub, is consoled by a friend outside the Orlando Police Department after a shooting involving multiple fatalities at the nightclub. Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel, via AP

Local, state and federal law enforcement gather in front of the house owned by the parents of Omar Mateen in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Mateen was the gunman in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that left at least 50 dead. Eric Hasert, TCPalm.com, via USA TODAY NETWORK

Omar Mateen is pictured in this 2001 file photo in his freshman year high school yearbook photo at Martin County High School. Mateen was the gunman in the attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that left at least 50 dead. TCPalm.com via USA TODAY NETWORK

A bouquet of flowers is seen in front of the Orlando Health Center where some of the victims of the shooting at Pulse nightclub are being treated in Orlando. Cristobal Herrera, European Pressphoto Agency

Volunteers line up to donate blood for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. The line of people waiting to give blood stretched around the building. Grace Howard, Central Florida Future, via USA TODAY NETWORK

This handout photo provided by the Orlando Police Department on June 12, 2016, shows a bullet hole left in a kevlar helmet worn by an Orlando police officer that saved his life during the shootings at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Orlando Police Department, via AFP/Getty Images

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer addresses reporters while flanked by members of law enforcement and community leaders during a news conference after a shooting involving multiple fatalities at a nightclub in Orlando. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

Family members wait for word from police after arriving down the street from a shooting involving multiple fatalities at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

FBI assistant special agent in charge Ron Hopper, center, answers questions from members of the media after a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Listening at left is Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

Emergency personnel wait with stretchers at the emergency entrance to Orlando Regional Medical Center hospital for the arrival of patients from the scene of fatal shootings at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

A handout photograph made available by Univision Florida Central shows a view of the general scene following a shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday, June 12, 2016. epa/Univision Florida Central Division

Jermaine Towns, left, and Brandon Shuford wait down the street from a multiple shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Towns said his brother was in the club at the time. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP

Imam Tariq Rasheed of the Islamic Center of Orlando echoed those sentiments. "No religious tradition can ever justify nor condone such ruthless and senseless acts of violence. Our prayers and condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the victims." Rasheed said.

“We are very saddened,” said Imam Muhammad Musri, president of the Islamic Society of Central Florida. “We condemn the person who did this, whatever ideology he had. No lives should be lost because of anger and hate.”

President Bilal Rana of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association said in a statement, "We urge all Americans to hold fast together against such violence and hate that seeks to divide and antagonize all of us.”

I'm terrified to live in a country where people are murdered for being who they are, whether gay, black, Muslim, or Catholic.. #Orlando

In the wake of the Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., terror attacks last year, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University released a study in December 2015 indicating that hate crimes against Muslims had tripled since the two attacks, reaching levels not seen since the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, according to the International Business Times.